THE billionaire owner of the Grangemouth refinery spent his birthday yesterday making sure all the candles were blown out at the plant.

Jim Ratcliffe, hardman boss of chemical giant Ineos, celebrated turning 61 by sending a toxic message to more than 1400 workers: Accept humiliating cuts to your terms and conditions, or run the risk of the sack.

Ineos refused to reopen the plant, withdraw their ultimatum to the workers and start talks – despite union leaders saying they would promise not to take industrial action for the rest of the year in return.

And Ratcliffe yesterday put on a hard hat and boiler suit to saunter around the huge plant as it was closed down over a strike that is not taking place.

He refused to speak to workers holding a vigil outside the plant.

Told it was Ratcliffe’s birthday, Pat Rafferty of Unite in Scotland said: “The people of Grangemouth, who are being blackmailed, won’t be celebrating.

“Jim Ratcliffe and the bosses at Ineos want to have their cake and eat it. Their irresponsible behaviour threatens a jewel in Scotland’s economy.”

Alex Salmond spent most of the day trying to broker a peace deal, and Finance Secretary John Swinney urged the two sides to sit down and talk.

He told the SNP conference: “The livelihoods of thousands of families depend on the continued operation of the Grangemouth plant.”

Ratcliffe, branded JR after the TV oil villain, is accused of using industrial blackmail to push the UK and Scottish governments into loaning his business millions of pounds.

His managers put Grangemouth into “cold shutdown” after Unite voted to strike over their treatment of a union rep. The walkout was cancelled, but the shutdown continues.

Fears are growing that the plant, which is strategically vital to Scotland, will close permanently unless Ineos get their way. The longer the site is idle, the harder it is to restart.

Ineos have given the workforce until 6pm on Monday to accept the new terms or conditions. If they refuse, a permanent closure will be considered.

Bosses yesterday walked away from talks for a second time, despite pleas from the two governments.

Salmond brokered talks late on Thursday night when he spoke to both sides individually. But negotiations broke down first thing yesterday morning, forcing the First Minister to continue his efforts throughout the day.

Grangemouth is key to the North Sea oil and gas industry. Its closure would be the biggest crisis to hit Salmond since the SNP came to power.

Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont urged the sides to talk. She said: “This is not the way we should be engaging in workplace disputes in the 21st century. Ineos should withdraw the ultimatums to the workforce.”

Ineos yesterday called for an assurance that there would be no industrial action this year – a pledge Unite have agreed to. But the union in return asked the company to withdraw their threat to impose new work conditions. At that point, talks broke down.

Pat Rafferty, Unite’s Scottish secretary, said the union promised at ACAS this week not to ballot for strikes in 2013. And he stressed that the offer still stood – if the company would agree to lift their threats to staff.

Rafferty insisted: “There is no reason why the plant cannot return to production and both parties can return to negotiations immediately to secure the future of Grangemouth.

“But we cannot work on a secure future for the site while the workforce is in fear for their jobs.”

Ineos said they needed a “clear guarantee” that there would be no industrial action of any kind during a 60-day consultation period with workers about their “survival plan” for the site.

They said that without such a pledge, they could not restart the plant – for “compelling safety reasons.”

The company plan involves changes to pension rights, wage conditions and union representation at the plant.